Swords of Damocles - Istanbul Conference (1929)

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Both parties have presented their initial terms in non-public messages. Does Britain and China care to restate these here?

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Ftr, if a mutual demilitarization if agreed upon, the Ottoman Empire can sent a task force to oversee its implementation (to be pulled when all stabilizes).

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The Ottoman Empire is concerned about a deep humanitarian aspect. On the one hand China must be understood in their desire to protect their people from the flow of opium. At the same time the civilian population of Hong Kong is caught in between.

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Hello?

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(Btw, you do know you have secret PMs from yours truly?)

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It appears we may have a breakdown in communication. We plead Japan and other countries involved in the matter would cease from taking serious diplomatic steps until we can hear from all parties.

(Off the record: gentlemen, we can't possibly fulfill our role as a mediator if we're left in the dark. Also, we're disappointed with all the problems with diplomatic cable communication.)

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Any such communications, were they exist, would be bilateral discussions between China and Japan. These hypothetical discussions would not have required input by either the British nor Ottoman governments.

Right. We're attempting to mediate between Chinese and British, not Japanese and Chinese. However, we would be very grateful if Japan-China bilateral discussions wouldn't be used to derail British-Chinese bilateral discussions. And, for the record, we don't imply either side would conciously attempt this.

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Representatives of the United Kingdom and the Chinese Empire:

We believe that in order to move forward the two sides should consider agreeing on some basic principles:

1. The United Kingdom recognizes Hong-Kong should be eventually handed over
2. The United Kingdom recognizes China is entitled to some form of a reparation due to the effects of opium trade
3. The Chinese Empire recognizes that, having long been living under the British rule, the people of Hong Kong may be entitled to some degree of an internal autonomy (one country, two systems anyone?)
4. The Chinese Empire recognizes that due to all assets invested over the years in the development of Hong Kong, the United Kingdom is entitled to a prolonged time table before relinquishing special economic interest

Also, the Ottoman Empire restates it's willingness to provide a peace task force to oversee demilitarization of certain areas if this is agreed upon. 

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If the British subscribe to the general understanding, everything will move forward swiftly.

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Wake up, Britain.

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It appears the British side acnkownedges the need to eventually ceding Hong Kong back to China, which we see as a very important step.

China?

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It appears we have, despite no specifics agreed upon yet, a general agreement Hong Kong is a part of the Chinese realm under temporary British administration, right? Does both sides confirm this?

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On behalf of His Sacred and Imperial Majesty's:

x Emmanuel Carasso Effendi
Grand Vizier

x Ever Pasha
Minister of Foreign Affairs